Ionized Air Filter Architecture for Low-Resistance Particle Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air filters in vehicle air conditioners face challenges in maintaining low flow resistance while effectively removing particulates over their service life, as the electrostatic charge diminishes quickly.
Innovation Solution
The air filtering device incorporates an ionizer with discharge electrodes upstream of a counter electrode, and an electrostatically chargeable filter downstream, creating an electric field that enhances particle ionization and polarization, maintaining efficiency even when the filter is clogged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional filters with open pore fiber layer are used to maintain low flow resistance, then air supply is sufficient, but mechanical capacity for dust removal is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtration mechanism with an electrostatic field-based particle removal mechanism. Discharge electrodes generate ions that charge particles, and the resulting electrostatic attraction to oppositely charged filter surfaces removes particles without relying on mechanical pore blocking, thus maintaining low flow resistance while improving dust removal capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the filter by applying electrostatic charging through discharge electrodes. The filter operates not just as a passive mechanical barrier but as an active electrostatic precipitation device, where voltage and charge density parameters control particle removal efficiency independent of pore structure.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If electrostatic charging is applied to improve dust particle removal, then particle removal is improved, but the electrostatic charge diminishes over time making the filter quickly ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary electrostatic charging to particles upstream of the filter using discharge electrodes. This pre-charging ensures particles are already charged before reaching the filter, so the filter only needs to provide collection surfaces rather than generate charge, maintaining effectiveness throughout its service life without charge diminishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ions as an intermediary substance generated by discharge electrodes. These ions charge the particles in the air stream, and the charged particles are then attracted to and collected on oppositely charged filter surfaces. The ions act as a mediator that enables continuous particle removal without the filter material itself needing to maintain electrostatic charge.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If filter is heavily clogged with particles, then particle removal efficiency decreases, but the polarization effect maintains efficiency even when clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates equipotential surfaces on both sides of the filter with counter electrodes, establishing a uniform electrostatic field that penetrates through the filter media. This field configuration ensures that charged particles experience consistent electrostatic attraction regardless of filter loading, maintaining removal efficiency even when the filter is heavily clogged with particles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves the long-term particle removal efficiency by maintaining effective electrostatic charging and polarization, ensuring efficient air filtration over the entire service life of the filter.
Implementation Method 1
an ionizer, preferably containing numerous discharge electrodes for generating ions therein
Implementation Method 2
a polarization effect in the filter. This also increases the long-term particle removal efficiency of the air filtering device due to the polarization effect of the filter
Data Source
AI summary
An air filtering device for an air conditioner, in particular for filtering out particles, preferably pollutants, from air is provided. The air filtering device comprises a flow path through which air flows along a flow direction, an ionizer for generating ions in the flow path, and grid structure made of an electrically conductive material, that is upstream of the ionizer in the flow path in the flow direction, which forms a first electrode. A filter is downstream of the ionizer in the flow path in the flow direction which has a layer that forms a second electrode. The air filtering device also comprises a high voltage power source that has an electric pole and an electric counter-pole for generating a high voltage between the pole and the counter pole. The pole is electrically connected to the ionizer, or its discharge electrode, and the counter-pole is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes.